Sorting machine



2 Sheets-Sheet l behtoz' i d? A. E. GRAY soR'rING MACHINE Filed Maren 1s, 1927 7, 1930- A. E. GRAY v son'rING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `inhgfstationinto which aicardfhasbeen pre-l Patentecl Oct. .'77, i i' UNiTEns-V'Tnres i ALVIN E. `GRAXQXOE DETROIT, MiorrIeAN, ASSIGNOR ro THETAEULATING MnoirrNE PATENT COMPANY, or `ENnioor'r,l NEW YYORK, A CORPORATION orv NEW JERSEY Y y y -SORTING MACHINE Appiiqation mea Maren 1e, i927. l-serinNo. 175,743;

This :invention -relatesrto improvements in machines adaptedi'or sorting perioratedlrecord cards used in tabulating systems and moreparticularly to a device for automatically depositing an unpunched record card into vthe same station Orboir` as the punched record cardpreceding it. y For the purpose'fof clearly invention I have shown same as applied to the Well known Hollerith .vertical sorter which electrically sorts andldepositseach predetermined. class Oirecord cards into their proper stations. w l

l 'lhejprincipal object of my' invention is` to automatically sort a cardlinto the same receivviously sorted.

Various other Obj ects` .and advantages of4 i my invention will be obviousfrom the following 'particular description ofthe mechanism embodying the inventionand from an inspectionojf the accompanying drawings in Which athe particular embodiment of my invention'is disclosed but as such illustration is primarily f'or the purpose of disclosure it Will be understood that my invention may be. made bythose skilled in the artV Without departing Afrom the broad spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed;`

In the yaccompanying4 drawingsV I have shown for thel purpose of illustration one form of mechanism embodying my inventionin which l c V Fig. l is a side sectional View of the mechanism taken on line Ml-el ofFig; 2;- Fig. 2 is sectional'plan viewfoi'f the mech-V anism taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 these tivo views showing the mechanism for controlling the disposition of the `nnpunched card 1n accordance With the dispositionoi the previousY punched card, the devicebeing adapted to be applied to `sorting machine.

Fig.' 3 is a Wiring diagram showing the operation and conti-Olot the machine;

Fig. 4 is a `detail sectional view ofthe cam `and `rictional driving elements included in` Figsland 2. Y Y.

In theoperation y lerith vertical sorter toWhich this invention disclosing i `my to besorted are placed inthe feeding .maga-- Vis shown as applied infI4`ig.` 3, ajstaclr of cards eine of the machine. The Operator manually 1 sets-the analyzing brush so that it Will traverse the 'desired index column on the cards as they pass under `it.` `Themachine is` then startedbeing drivenby a motor and the record cards are :ted one byone fromV the stack,

vicewe `Willapply it. to payroll purposes.

i ing tothe inventionis illustrated in lFigi. y and by Way of eXampleis shown `asloeing` Thal-problem of checking identification nu1nb ers on `pay rolls is`onefthat receives se-- rlous consideration. In order to have a check on such identification numbers I have devisedV a mechanism Which will be hereinafter described. 'As an example, aset` of `guide or identification cards Will be addressogi'aplied` i for each mans name, address, etc., appearlng on the pay roll sheets. These cards may then be punched to show the mans identiiication number in afield on the-guide card Which Will coincide in location With fthe mans identiication numberpunched in the fsameA field' on the record `cards bearing` punched informationpertaining to the pay Vroll. Y IVe Will now assume that the guide cards `and pay roll cards have all been punched; the guide card bearing only,punched,informa-- tion, pertaining to the mans identiiicationy number, ,it being obvious .that thelvpay roll cards will bear informationpertaining to` `thatparticular pay roll. In largefcorpora- *tions eachpav rollreceives a serialinumber and this number is key punched only on the pay roll cards, the. guide cards not beingl punched as to pay rollserial number due to 1 y l l the fact that the serial number obviouslywill of the .Well known Hol-` be different `foreach pay roll. In checking identification numbers i on 1 pay rolls, the

group of punched pay roll cards of a s pay roll are placed together with the @UP of guide cards in the magazine oil a sorting machine, the guide cards being placed hehind punched pay roll cards. lt is understood that for each pay roll, there is but one pay roll serial number on the payroll cards corresponding to the ride card hearing the same identification number. ln the present case, it will he assumed that there is only one pay roll card tor each guide card. The groups of guide cards and pay roll cards being placed in the magazine, the operator then sets the analyzing brush. sothat it will traverse the index column bearing the identiiication numbers on the guideand pay roll cards, it being understood that the identiiti` cation numbers on both the guide and pay roll cards are punched in the same field; T he sorting machine is then started and the cards are sorted in the Well known manner. hitter this operation has been completed and the cards taken from their respective stations We will have alternate punched pay roll cards and guide cards, Theppay roll and guide cards are again placed into the magazine of the sort-er, the s ivitch 55 (see Fig. 3) heing closed so that the repeating device Iwill function. The analyzing brush of the sorting machine is then set to traverse the desired indexl column on the pay roti. cards. The sorting machine is then started and by meansv of my'invention the guide cares are automatically sorted into the same stations as the punched pay roll cards preceding them. litv is obvious that the identiicationA numbers or any other data pertaining to the original entry on the guide cards may be readily checked against the information perforated on the pay roll cards, thus assuring the accuracy of both the mans identi lication number and other punched information. Vllhe second sorting operation is done for the purp'i o or arranging the pay roll cards with the f rial numbers in numerical order. Since the guide cards are unpunched in the liehl cor'- responding to the one on the pav roll'card bearing` the serial numbers, they would in an ordinary sorting machine be fed to the reject magazine. For the purpose hereto :tore set forth, namely that oit checking the guide cards against the serial pay roll cards, it is desired to have the guide card, instead of going to the reject magazine, enter the same pocket as its corresponding pay roll card. The means for accomplishing this is in detail as follows:

Referring now to Fig. 1 my invention as disclosed comprises a set of magnets 10- mounted in the Well known manner. llfhcnf these magnets receive an impulse they are energized and attract armature 11l pivot/ed to the frame of, the repeating device at Atlixed to the right end of armature l1 by means ofinsulation 13 is a latchingmember let adapted to hold cam 15 against clocki e rotation on the shaft 16L upon which it is Yfrictionally mounted. After the latch 14C has been raised to release lthe member 15 and the magnets 10 have become deenergized the latch 14tn'ill fall bacl into position to again latch member .15.

15:L may he timed to depress A constantly rotating cam the latch 14 Vaftter deenergization of magnets 1() to insure 11. In other words. upon the com plction ol' a cycle o'l the cam 15 a circuit is closed. l Il? v held in position at the bottom ot insulation l l 1 in the Welllrnoivn manner is a brush holder 1S carrying a wiping brush 9.() which constantly rides upon the periphery oii a collar 21 (see Fig. t) fixed to a sleeve which sleeve Vis iixed on the shaft 169. -litlthough I have stipulated a wiping brush it is obvious that other Well known means may bev employed to traverse the periphery of; collar` 21. As previously mentioned cam 15` is 'lrictionall'y mounted on the shaft 15u. That is, as the shaft rotates the cam tends to rotate with it but may beheld against rotation. As; disclosed in Fig. fi a spider spring 9.3 is placed between the collar 21 and the cam` The collar as heretofore mentioned is fixed to the sleeve 22 and revolves continually with the slla'tt during the operation oi'. the niachine the sleeve Q2 beine ri 0idl f monnied on` i o e .l

the shaft 151k The pressure' nl the spider spring 23 against the cam l5 forces the cam against the tlange 22 oi the sleeve Q2, tendi ng to rotate the cam with the sha'tt, but permits the cam to he held stationary by the latch ll.

Reference will now be had to Fig. jl'or a detailed explaiiationof the operation oliny device. Asprevionsly stated a stach of guide Cards andpunched payroll cards to he sorted are placed in the magazine Mot thesorting machine, it being understood that the payroll cards pertaining tothe particular pay roll h ave the serialnumher of the pay roll punched therein and the guide cards simply bear addressographedy information and punched.- i nformation pertaining tothe mans idontiication number, the identification number on the guide cards and pay roll cards being in the same field. The switch 55 is then closed in order to have a circuit through the repeating mechanism. The current is then turned on 'through start key 25 and the sorting machine begins to function. The operation of N operates.

maar

the sorter is the same as the IIollcrith type of sorter. Asithe.punchedpay'roll cards pass overfthe roller 26 the brush 27;will make contacty withthe roller through a hole punched in the particular index column, `to whichtlie analyzing bi'ush has been set, i ,Vile will `assume that the brushmales contact with theroller through av hole designated H 'lhiscontactwill energize .relay 28 foran instunt andwill energize soiting magnet"` 3C) to select the 6fpoclretlfor depositingitlie card and willialso at thismoment release he cam permitting it to commence rotatin .inlv

the counterclockwise directionhas viewed'in Fig. 3. This cam is timed to engage: ,the contact 16 at the moment that the brush reaches the position on the guide card corresponding" to the holeA 6 punched on thepay roll card. This will again energizerthe,sortin g magnet 3Qto selectfthe six` pocket for depositing ofiV the guide card;v i In` other words the guide card is automatically deposited into thesame pocket` as the pay roll. card with which it cof A detailedoperation of the circuits as follows: Assuming that the card has va punched'hole at 6 as heretofore mentioned, when ,the bruslij27` comes in contact with the roller26 through the hole inthe card the following circuit will beestablished; from the positive side of the line 31, through magnet 28, wire 32, brush 27, ynietallic roller 26, brush33, magnet 34, magnet 35, resistance '36, contact 37 andback to the negative side A 'of the line. Energization of magnet 28 closes contacts 29 so that Whenthe `brush 27 has passed by the hole in the card the following circuit is maintained: from the positive side of the line 31 through magnet 28, contacts 29, wire39, magnet 34, magnet 35, resistance 36, contact 37 and back to the negative side of line 38. Energization of magnet closes contacts 40 and establishes the following cir- 1` cuit: from the positive sideY of the line 31,

through wire 41, wire 42, contacts 40, magnet lo, wire` 44, sorting magnet 30, wire 45, re-

f sistance 46, wire 47 contacts 37, bacl'to the negative side of the line 38. When magnet .f 30de energized the armature 48 causes latch- ,7 ing member 49 todip in between the blades 50 holding the blade cooperating with the 6 pocket from following the cam wiper 51 as is fully disclosed in the Hollerith patent heretofore referred to. EnergiZa-tion of magnet 34 closes contacts 52 establishinga circuit from the positive side of the line 31,

, "57, contacts 37 and back to the negative side l; of the lineA 38. Energization of magnet 10 a counterclockwise direction.

ly stated this cam is so timed that the high through wire 41, wire 42, wire 53, contacts 52, wire 54, switch 55, magnets 10, resistance attracts armature 11 lifting the latching member 14 out of cooperation with the high portion v17 of cam 15 allowing it to rotate in As previousportion 17 of the cani willnot makecntact withthe contact member 16 until theI brushr 27 is ina position on the blank or unpunched a card which coincides withthe khole punched in the pay roll card preceding it; Near the completion of a cycle of cam? 15 the high por` tion ,17. makes contact with the. contact inem-r ber 16 establishing a circuitfrom the' positive ,side of the line 31, through wire 41, wire 42, `wire. 59, contacts 16, cam 15,1collar 21, brush 20,"wire60, magnet 43, wire `44, sorting magnetw39`, wire 45, resistance 46, wire 47, con'- tactls371and vback tothe negative side of the line38. Thecontacts 37 and 37 inthe nor-" mal operationof the sorter both open between I succeeding`cards"anddeenergize magnets 28,` 34 and 35. VTo lstarti'the sorting machine a" key 25 isA depressed establishing a `circuit I from the positiveside of the line 31, throughA1 wire 41, wire 42`,stop key `61", start :key 25, ,i now normally closed, magnet 62, magnet 63,

and backtorthe negative side of the line 38. i

`Ilnergization of magnet 6,3 closes contacts 64,r establishing atcircuit from thepositiveside ofthe line 31, through wire 41, through driv`-` ing motor 1M, wire 65, contactsv64', magnet 63 and b'aclr to the negativeside ofytlieline" 38. When the start key25jis depressed the.

operator holds thelrey down `until after `the first card has `beenfed and thereaftery asfthel cards feed they `abut,against avlever 65 to one of thecontact members.66"establishing` the .following circuit which keepsthe` sorter functioning while the cards continue to feed The circuit is as follows: from the positive side ofthe line 3l, through wire 41,wire 42" stop key 61, wire'67, contacts 66, wire68, con` tacts 69, magnet 62, magnet 63 z tndba-AzlrV to the negative side of the line38L`` VAs soon as the cards are all fed into the machine the contacts 66`open deenergizing magnets `62 and 63 stop?` ping the motonM. `To hold the repeating means inoperative," it isfonly necessary to open switch 5,5 thus opening the circuit throughlmagnets and ,preventing energi-` i zation thereof to-attract armature latch 11.

VhileL I haveshown and described and pointed outfthe fundamental novel features of theinvention asappliedto a singlel 1nodifi-. cation itv will be understood .that "various omissions andsubstitutions and `changes in the form and details of the device.illustrated and in its operation maybe made .by those Y skilled in the art withoxu t` departing from the" cards into said pocletsand means controlled` by `said selective 'means forfcausing a` `card following a control card to be` fediinto-,the pocket selected by saidlcontrolcard, said last iso named means including a constantly rot-ating shaft, a Contact member frictionally mounted thereon, means for. normally holding said member against rotation, mea-ns controlled by said selective means for releasing said contact member for operation, and a cooperating contact member adapted to be' engaged by said first named contact member for controlling the disposition of said second card With respect to said pockets.

2. In a sorting machine, a plurality of rec eiving pockets, means cont-rolled by perforated cardsfor selectively depositing such cards into said pockets, a ltime controlled element adapted to be brought into operation by said selecting means to cause a subsequent operation of the selecting means to control the disposition of a subsequent card with respect to said pockets. v

3. In a sorting machine, receiving pockets, a sorting magnet for controlling the disposition of cards with respect to said pockets, and means adapted to be brought into operation Whenever said sorting magnet is energized for causing repetition of energization of said magnet at a predetermined subsequent operation of the machine.

4. In a sorting machine, including receiving pockets and card control inea-,11S for controlling the disposition 0f 2L `Card'with respect to said pockets, means for selectively depositing cards in said pockets, means for selecting the disposition of a card With respect to said pockets in accordance with a previous depositing operation of a card into said pockets and means 'for rendering said last namedl means inoperative.

5. In a cyclically operable machine, a device for reading the data on tabulating cards, a circuit established .during one cycle by said device in accordance with .the readings of the cards, means operate-d by said circuit in accordance with the data on said card, and means set in operation bysaid device during said cycle for causing said circuit to be established subsequent to said cycle whereby the operation of the first-named means is repeated.

6. In a cyclically operable machine, receiving pockets, means controlled by a tabulating card for selecting a pocket for the ,CllCl in accordance with the ydata on said card, and a device set in operation by the` same card at a point in the cycle corresponding to the data on said card for subsequently controlling said means to select the same pocket for anothencard. y

7 In a sorter, means for reading 1tabulatng cards, means Controlled by Said reading means to sort the cards in accordance with their designations, a device for controlling Said Sorting' means 4indenende.ntly of .and subsequently to said reading means, and means controlled by .seid reading .means for setting said ,vice openton.

8. In a sorter, means for reading cards, means set in operation by the reading means for sorting the cards, and a device set in operation simultaneously With said sorting means by said reading means. for subsequently controlling said sorting means independently of said reading means.

9. In a sorting machine, means for reading tabulating cards, a circuit controlled by said reading means, means controlled by said circuit for sorting the cards, and a device for controlling said circuit independently of the reading means to cause said sorting means. to subsequently repeat its operation.

10. In a machine as set forth in claim 9, said device being set in operation by said reading means.

l1. In a. machine as set forth in claim 9, said device comprising a movable member, means for restraining movement of said me1nber, and means controlled by said reading means for rendering said restraining means ineffective.

12. In a machine such as described in claim 9, said device and said reading means alternating in controlling said circuit;

In testimony whereof I hereto ailix my signature.

` ALVIN E. GRAY.

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